CVE-2024-20289 in NX-OS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2024
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, low-privileged, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of arguments for a specific CLI command. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including crafted input as the argument of the affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the currently logged-in user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20289 represents a critical command injection flaw within Cisco NX-OS Software command line interface. This security weakness affects network devices running Cisco NX-OS operating system and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within specific CLI commands. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-77, which categorizes command injection vulnerabilities as a serious threat to system integrity. Attackers exploiting this flaw can manipulate the system through crafted input parameters, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only low-privileged authentication, making it accessible to attackers who have already gained some level of access to the device.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of CLI command arguments where insufficient input sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious commands. When a user executes a specific CLI command with crafted parameters, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing it. This failure creates an execution path where attacker-controlled commands can be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. The vulnerability essentially provides a pathway for privilege escalation within the device's command execution environment, as the executed commands run with the privileges of the currently authenticated user. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which describes the execution of commands through various interfaces including command-line interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20289 extends beyond simple command execution, as it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to network infrastructure and potentially escalate privileges further. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code on the target device, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The local nature of the attack means that physical or network access to the device is required, but the low privilege requirement significantly reduces the barrier to exploitation. Organizations running Cisco NX-OS devices are particularly vulnerable since this flaw affects core network infrastructure components that typically require minimal authentication for basic operations. The vulnerability's potential for lateral movement within network environments makes it especially dangerous for enterprise networks where multiple affected devices may exist.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20289 should focus on immediate patching of affected Cisco NX-OS versions and implementation of network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Organizations must ensure all affected devices receive the latest security updates from Cisco, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific input validation issue. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious CLI command execution patterns and consider disabling unnecessary CLI commands where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as emphasized in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potential command injection vulnerabilities within the network infrastructure, as similar flaws may exist in other components of the system architecture.